The court considered whether it was lawful for a local authority to outsource the decision making on homelessness reviews. The appellants said that it could not be contracted out, and that the agent employed lacked the necessary independence and was not democratically accountable. Held: Reviews could be contracted out. The court could ‘not see that … Continue reading Heald and Others v London Borough of Brent: CA 20 Aug 2009
The court was asked how to deal with a plainly deficient homelessness decision when the deficiency has had no adverse consequences for the applicant? Judges: Mummery, Etherton, LJJ, Sir Stephen Sedley Citations: [2013] EWCA Civ 20 Links: Bailii Statutes: Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Review Procedures) Regulations 1999 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 13 … Continue reading Ibrahim v London Borough of Wandsworth: CA 30 Jan 2013
The claimant had applied for housing under homelessness provisions saying that he was in priority need and was not homeless intentionally. The first decision had been that he was intentionally homeless and not in priority need. After review, it was agreed that he was not intentionally homeless. The applicant said that this should now entitle … Continue reading Mitu v London Borough of Camden: CA 1 Nov 2011
The court considered questions arising under the review procedure applicable under homelessness provisions. Judges: Maurice Kay LJ VP, Rimer, Etherton LJJ Citations: [2011] EWCA Civ 355 Links: Bailii Statutes: Housing Act 1996 202, Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Review Procedures) Regulations 1999 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 06 September 2022; Ref: scu.431750
The applicant had applied for rehousing as a homeless person. She was offered interim accommodation but refused it. Her case was reviewed, and her reasons rejected. She claimed the procedure was unfair, in that the authority was looking at decisions on disputed facts, and reviewing its own decisions on those facts. It was not acting … Continue reading London Borough of Tower Hamlets v Runa Begum: CA 6 Mar 2002
The court was asked what is required of local housing authorities in order to comply with regulation 8(2) of the Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Review Procedures) Regulations 1999/71 Citations: [2018] EWCA Civ 1616, [2018] WLR(D) 437 Links: Bailii, WLRD Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing Updated: 25 April 2022; Ref: scu.619389
The claimant sought emergency housing saying that he had a priority need for housing. He had liver cirrhosis and alcoholism, depression and asthma. The authority denied his claim. Held: When an officer considered an appeal against a refusal of emergency housing, he should allow the applicant to make further representations if he was considering refusing … Continue reading Banks v Royal Borough of Kingston-Upon-Thames: CA 17 Dec 2008
The appellant challenged the procedure for reviewing a decision made as to the suitability of accomodation offered to her after the respondent had accepted her as being homeless. The procedure involved a review by an officer of the council, with an appeal to the County Court on a point of law. Held: The decision was … Continue reading Runa Begum v London Borough of Tower Hamlets (First Secretary of State intervening): HL 13 Feb 2003
